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News.com.au
4 days ago
- Automotive
- News.com.au
Why ‘dragon teeth' are being added to Aussie roads
They may not be from Smaug, King Ghidorah or Falkor, but Australian drivers may soon be coming across 'dragon teeth' on their morning commutes. Strange-looking three-dimensional road markings have appeared in South Australia as part of a safety trial amid the country's worst road death crisis in decades. The triangular, blue and white markings are a variation of 'dragon teeth' and signal the transition into a lower-speed zone of 40 km/h. The road markings being trialled in Adelaide are part of a study led by the University of Adelaide's Centre for Automotive Safety Research. 'This trial is supported with a grant from the Commonwealth government, the federal government, it's a specific grant for finding new ways to improve road safety.' Senior research associate at the Centre for Automotive Research Dr Mario Mongiardini told The markings, also known as treatments, are designed to play off an optical illusion that makes drivers think they're going faster than they are, based on decreasing triangle size. 'They induce the perception that the lane is reducing. And the main aim of this effect is to induce drivers to slow down.' NSW drivers may be familiar with plain white dragon teeth markings, but the trial added a three-dimensional aspect to the treatment to higheten the desired effect. 'Hopefully the three-dimensional aspect enhances the effect of the standard dragon teeth, so increases that feeling and therefore hopefully make them more effective at creating this channelisation, and therefore inducing them to slow down,' Dr Mongiardini said. 'Its also to make them more aware, give them the sense of warning that there is something changing ahead. And that is the kind of additional thing, I would say, that sometimes the standard dragon teeth, they may not achieve.' The trial concluded last week in sites across South Australia, and experts are now conducting analysis to see the potential for future more widespread implementation. 'Let's start with this trial, see how effective this treatment is in at least achieving the objective that we are aiming to achieve.
You usually start with a small trial. If it's promising, then you may expand the trial, you may expand the application, and then eventually may become a standard treatment.' They have been installed at Magill Road, Magill, and Seaview Road, Henley Beach, areas intentionally selected for their zones of high pedestrian activity. A Facebook post announcing the markings received mixed reception from social media users with some describing it as 'fantastic idea and well over due,' while others slammed it as a 'waste of taxpayers' money' and questioned why the government didn't 'just paint the speed limit on the road.' While painted speed limits are allowed on roads in NSW, they are currently not part of the standard pavement markings allowed in South Australia, Dr Mongiardini said. 'I think it's a good idea to combine both and to have a speed limit sign painted just upstream of the treatment or at the very beginning, and then the three-dimensional dragon teeth to reinforce the meaning that drivers are transiting to an area where the speed limit and the environment is changing ahead,' he said. 'While we can't currently do that in South Australia, it's on the table.' The trial comes as Australia recorded 1318 deaths on Australian roads last year, marking a surging national road toll for the fourth consecutive year – the first time this has occurred in over six decades. Data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed that more than three people died and more than 100 others suffered serious injuries on Australian roads every day in 2024.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
New Aussie road markings aimed at giving drivers a 'sense of warning'
As authorities grapple with reducing the number of injuries and deaths on Aussie roads, a trial of a new type of three-dimensional road markings has been expanded in Australia's south, prompting a warning to drivers. Known as 'dragon's teeth', the aim of the road markings is to alert drivers to a change in the road, such as a reduction in the speed limit. The road markings are being trialled in Adelaide as part of a study led by the University of Adelaide's Automotive Safety Research, alongside the Department of Transport. Making them appear 3D, the triangular blue and white markings may "attract more attention" from drivers and encourage them to slow down as they enter a lower-speed zone, leading road safety scientist at the University of Adelaide Mario Mongiardini told Yahoo News. They were installed at Magill Road, Magill, and Seaview Road, Henley Beach, in January, and last week two new locations have been added — Beach Road, Christies Beach and Prospect Road, Prospect. If successful, the markings could be used in high-pedestrian areas across the country, because they can be implemented "cheaply and quickly" by authorities. Researcher Mongiardini explained to Yahoo this type of road treatment is called a "perceptual countermeasure" because it aims to change the perception of road users. "The 3D marking is an evolution of an existing treatment which consists of white triangles only," he said. "The idea was to convert them to look 3D to attract more attention, something drivers cannot miss." The goal was to create a "sense of warning" as drivers move from a 60km/h or 50km/h zone to a reduced 40km/h pedestrian zone. Due to its relatively low cost and easy installation, which takes just two hours, it is an attractive measure for authorities. "This treatment, compared to other treatments, is definitely way cheaper and quicker," Mongiardini said. However, he warns that this treatment "is not meant to be installed everywhere", only where it is really needed, where pedestrians could be at risk. "The idea is to use them only in specific situations, like on a straight road where a speed limit changes, but drivers don't realise that the environment ahead is changing," he explained. It's used as a "heads up". ⚠️ Major road rule change from this week with drivers facing $1,600 fines 🐉 Why 'dragon teeth' are appearing on roads 🛑 Meaning behind little-known roadside marker popping up 'a lot' Results of the trial are due to be collected and analysed later this year, with researchers hoping to see a reduction in speed, even of just four or five kms. "Speed is the key factor in 99 per cent of crashes," Dr Chris Stokes, another researcher at the University of Adelaide, previously told Yahoo. "The faster you hit an object, the harder the impact is going to be." "Even a reduction by four or five km is quite a lot," Mongiardini said. "It means that after the treatment has been installed, drivers start to respect the speed limit and be more aware of the environment. We don't expect dramatic changes in speed." If the trial proves to be "effective at mitigating travel speed", Aussies could see it on a road near them soon. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Daily Mail
7 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Expert reveals why you should NEVER feed your cat milk - even though they love it
Along with purring and hairballs, cats are also well known for their love of milk. But you should never give your cat a bowl of the white stuff, an expert has revealed. Like all mammals, cats begin life drinking from their mother and constantly meowing for more. However once they are past kittenhood, milk is a completely unnecessary part of their diet, experts say. Julia Henning, from the school of animal and veterinary science at the University of Adelaide, explained that the majority of cats are actually lactose intolerant. After they have finished weaning, at around six to 12 weeks of age, kittens stop producing the enzyme lactase – required to digest lactose in milk - she said. If they are then given cow's milk – which contains much higher levels of lactose than the milk of mother cats – they can experience unpleasant symptoms including bloating, abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhoea. Cats who drink milk or dairy regularly are at increased risk of these health complications. And it could even become deadly, as chronic diarrhoea can lead to dehydration and malnutrition. Previous studies have suggested that cats may initially enjoy cow's milk because of the high levels of protein and fats in it. Cow's milk has also been linked to a calming effect in our feline companions. So, is it okay to give them a bit of milk every now and then? 'The short answer is no,' Ms Henning told The Conversation. 'Dairy is not a natural part of cats' diet. While they may like the taste, milk is likely to cause your furry friend discomfort and health issues, so it's best to avoid entirely. 'And if you're thinking your cat is one of the lucky few that isn't lactose intolerant, think again. 'Cats are very good at hiding discomfort because, in the wild, showing weakness would make them a target for predators. 'If you absolutely must, opt for lactose-free milk or milk formulated specifically for cats, and keep it as a very occasional treat. 'While it won't upset their stomachs in the same way as regular cow's milk, it still won't offer your cat any nutritional benefit.' Milk alternatives such as oat, soy or almond milk are also likely to cause digestive upset, as they are an unusual addition to a cat's diet, she added. 'The bottom line? Don't give your cat milk,' she said. 'They don't need it, they probably can't digest it and it's likely to cause more pain than it's worth.' A previous study, published in 2023, found that some cats like to play fetch in the same way as dogs. A survey of nearly 1,000 owners also suggests cats like to be in control of the game and respond best when they lead the play. While fetching is not typically associated with felines, the researchers believe the behaviour is instinctive – often happening without any formal training. Based on their findings, published in the journal Nature, the academics are urging cat owners to be more attuned to their pets' needs and their preferences for play. They say that playing fetch may be beneficial for the welfare of the cat and may strengthen the bond between the pet and its owner. Cats are often branded aloof and solitary creatures who spend their days plotting their human owner's demise, but such characterisations could not be further from the truth. In fact, our feline friends constantly communicate their feelings of affection to us, whether it be through their whiskers, tail, face or body language. In her eye-opening new book Kitty Language: An Illustrated Guide to Understanding Your Cat, author Lili Chin - with the help of animal behaviourists - explains how to interpret your pet's movements. Below are some of the most common behaviours and what they could signal.
The Guardian
15-05-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Echidna mothers change their pouch microbiome to protect tiny ‘pink jelly bean' puggles, new research finds
When echidna mothers nurse their young, known as puggles, the microbiome of their pouch changes to protect their babies in their first weeks of life, new research has found. These first few weeks are critical for puggles. At this early developmental stage, they are tiny – roughly the size of a 5-cent coin – and vulnerable. 'They can't see and they don't have a functional immune system,' said Isabella Wilson, lead author of the study published in FEMS Microbiology Ecology. Echidnas lay their eggs into a temporary pouch, which they create by contracting their abdominal muscles. After about 10 days, puggles hatch from their eggs looking like, in Wilson's words, 'little pink jelly beans'. During lactation, probiotic bacteria in the echidna's pouch increases, which the University of Adelaide researchers suggested offers protection to puggles and their developing immune systems. The reproductive biology of the echidna is unique in many respects, Wilson said. Monotremes – echidnas and platypus – share a lot of 'weird features', she said. As well as laying eggs, they lack nipples. So instead of suckling, puggles rub their beaks against a part of the pseudo-pouch called the milk patch, causing milk to come out of the mother's skin. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email This milk, which is sometimes pink, has barely any lactose compared to that of most other animals. 'The young hang out there [in the pseudo-pouch] for a few months, drink up a lot of milk,' Wilson said. 'Then, when they start to grow spines, they get turfed out of the pouch into the nursery burrow – where they continue to feed off mum for about 200 days.' An echidna's pouch is only temporary – it is there while a puggle is inside. Healesville Sanctuary echidna keeper Craig McQueen, who was not involved in the research, agreed puggles generally stayed there for six to seven weeks, until their spines became 'too prickly' for mum. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion He said echidnas were curious animals that invested a lot of time into raising their young. When they hatch out of their grape-sized egg, puggles are furless, blind and 'basically looked like they shouldn't have been born yet', he said – which is why they need the 'extra developmental time' in the pouch. The paper explains that the reproductive microbiome, 'which includes vaginal, milk, and mammary microbiota, is increasingly being recognised for its contributions to infant health'. And in monotremes and marsupials, this extends to the pouch. Researchers analysed bacteria present on swabs from both captive animals at Taronga Zoo and wild echidnas on Kangaroo Island. They found that the pouch's microbiome underwent significant changes during lactation, with an increase in lactic acid bacteria typically thought of as probiotic. They found no major difference between the microbiomes of the zoo-managed and wild animals. Wilson said this suggested that milk, rather than any external factors, is the primary element shaping the pouch environment.
